Electromagnetic switch



Feb. 12, 1935. H. c. NETTE 1 ELECTROMAGNETIC SWITCH Filed March 30, 1932 INVENTOR HENRY C/VETTE. BY

' ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 12, 1935 PATENT OFFICE ELECTROMAGNETIC swrrcn Henry C. Nette, Rutherford, N. J., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application March so, 1932, Serial Naeoaoss 1 Claim. (o1. 200-67) The present invention relates to electrical switches and more particularly to electro-magnetically operated remote control switches.

Heretofore, in switches of the above type, van- 5 ous structures have been employed using toggle mechanisms to operate the movable contacts of the switch in order to get a snap action in the closing and opening of the switch, the contacts being closed by the electro-magnetic attraction of a vertically arranged plunger or armature of the solenoid operating the lever of the toggle mechanism against the tension of a spring, and upon de-energization of the solenoid the plunger was operated by the force of gravity to again actuate the toggle mechanism for opening the switch with a snap action. Such devices, however, required that they be mounted in one specific position, namely, with the plunger of the solenoid in a vertical position so that it could be anism. Such types, although suitable for switchboard mounting, are not suitable in installations where the device is subjected to various motions whereby its position may be any other than vertical.

Accordingly one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved structure of an electro-magnetically operated toggle switch which will operate efilciently when mounted in any position.

Another object is to provide in an' electro magnetic toggle switch novel means whereby the toggle mechanism is effectively actuated to operate the switch'upon de-energization of the ing it possible to manufacture the switch economically in large quantities without detracting from the operating efllciency thereof.

The above and other objects and advantagesof the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claim.

actuated by gravity to operate the toggle mechsolenoid of the switchregardless of the position' In the drawing, wherein like reference char acters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of switching device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the switch in its closed position; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the switch structure shown in Fig. 2 whenthe switch is in its open position. a

The foregoing objects are obtained in accordance with a feature of the invention by the provision of a spring controlled solenoid which insures a positive operation of the toggle mechanism when the solenoid is de'-energized and safeguards against accidental disturbance of the toggle mechanism when the switch is in its open position.

A switching mechanism embodying the present invention comprises essentially a pair of movable contacts carried by a switch arm and arranged to engage a pair of fixed contacts carried by an insulating base plate or support through the operation of a toggle mechanism actuated by an electro-magnet or solenoid, the toggle mechanism being operatively connected to the armature or plunger of said electro-magnet or solenoid.

Referring to the drawing, the switching mechanism embodying the invention in the form shown, comprises a base plate or support 4, preferably of some suitable insulating material such as hard rubber or phenol-condensation product, upon which-are mounted a pair of fixed contacts '5 and 8 of the switch and arranged to be connected to any suitable electrical circuit (not shown) by means of binding posts 7 and 8'. The electrical circuit to which the fixed contacts 5 and 6 may beconnected is arranged to be closed by a pair of movable contacts 9 and 10 through a conducting bridge member 11 carried by an insulating switch arm 12 which forms a part of the toggle mechanism for operating the switch. The other part of the toggle mechanism is constituted by a lever 13 which is connected together with the switch arm 12- on opposite sides of a pivot 14 by means of a pair of springs 15 and 15a. The opposite ends of the springs 15 and 15a are secured to pins 16, 16a and 17, 17a, carried by the switch arm 12 and lever 13, respectively. The pivotal connection 14 between the switch arm 12 and the lever 13 18 formed by a bracket 18 secured to the base closing the contacts 5, 9 and 6, .10, and in the form shown comprise an electro-magnet or solenoid 20 which includes a coil 21 mounted in a casing or cover 22 secured to the base plate or support 4 in any suitable manner, .as by means of screws, one of which is shown at 23, and an armature 24 concentric with and arranged to be operated by the coil 21 within a chamber 24a upon energization of said coil 21.- .Secured to or formed integral with the armature which is in the form of a piston, is a rod 25 pivotally connected to the lever 13 by means of a pin 26 carried by said rod and operating in a slot 27 formed in the lever 13. It will now be ap arent that upon energization of the coil 21 from any suitable force (not shown) controlled from a remote point, the armature 24 will be actuated by electro-magnetic attraction,- to the right as viewed in Figs. 2 and '3, thereby pulling the lever 13 to the right to bring the spring 15 under tension, and assoon as the lever 13 and the switch arm 12 pass the position in which they are in alignment with the spring 15, the latter will rapidly actuate the switch arm 12 to bridge theicontacts 5 and 6 by means of, contacts 9 and 10 and the bridge member 11.

It will be apparent, however, that unless some means are provided ,for actuating the toggle mechanism upon de-energization of the solenoid 20 the switch not open unless the armature or piston 24 is actuated by gravity, which may be possible only when the solenoid is in a vertical position but not possible when in the horizontal position shown in the drawing. To this end and in accordance with the invention, novel means are provided whereby upon de-energization of the solenoid 20 the toggle mechanism is eflectively actuated to open the switch with a rapid snap action in substantially the same manner as when it is operated to its closed position. In the form shown said means comprise a coil spring 28 interposed between the armature 24 and aflxefd member 29 and which is-prevented from being dislodged by having a portion at either-end'thereof titted within annular recesses 30 and 31 formed in; the armature 24 and the member 29, respectively.

, It will now be seen that upon energization of .the solenoid 20 the toggle mechanism or the switch is actuated by operation oi! the armature 1,ee1,11a

the latter being whollycompressed within the recesses 30 and 31, and upon de-energization of the solenoid 20 the energy stored within the spring 28 causes the armature 24 to be operated in the opposite direction thereby actuating the toggle mechanism 12, 13 to open the contacts 5, 9 and 6, 10.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there is provided a novel electro-magnetically operated switching mechanism embodying a toggle which may be operated -no matter in what position the entire mechanism may be and it is, therefore, particularly suitable in aircraft installations where a switch cannot be mounted in any particular position since its position is subject to change with a change in the dying attitude' of the craft, and hence at one instant the switch may be in a horizontal position and in the next instant may be in a vertical position or in any other in-between position. Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described other changes and modifications in the form and arrangement of parts, which will now appear to those skilledin the art, may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Reference is, therefore, to be had to the appended claim for a definition of the limits of the invention. What is claimed is:

An electric switch comprising a single insu lating base plate, a support extending from one side of said plate and pivotally carrying a pair -nectdbetween the pins on either side of the arms and adapted to coact-in toggle fashion with the said arms to move them both either toward the plate or away therefrom, operating means for closing said switch arranged behind said base plate, an operating rod associated with" said operating means extending through the plate and connected by a pin and slot connection to the other pivotal arm, a spring associated with said operating means urging said rod in the opposite direction to open the switch upon release '0! said operating means, said rod having a shoulder adapted'to engage the rear surface of said base plate and limit the movement thereof in one direction.

HENRY c. 

